JLC3DP Blog

Resins

Best Resin Printer for Miniatures in 2026

Choosing the best resin printer for miniatures in 2026 comes down to one thing: detail per dollar. After a hands-on review of this year's leading SLA and 4K/8K LCD resin printers, we ranked the top picks for D&D, Warhammer, and tabletop terrain — from a $149 beginner machine to an 8K showcase rig. This guide covers resolution (4K vs 8K), build volume, resin choices, and a buyer's checklist, so you can print crisp minis without overspending or drowning in failed prints. Why Resin 3D Printers Are Best f......

Sep 05, 2026

Safety & Maintenance

10 Things You Should Never 3D Print

(source: Freepik) 3D printing opens the door to creativity, customization, and convenience, but not everything should be on the print bed. While the tech keeps getting better, safer, and more accessible, there are still clear boundaries, legal, ethical, and material-based- that shouldn’t be crossed. The short answer to "what can't you 3D print?" is: anything illegal, anything safety-critical that you can't certify, and anything that the material simply can't handle. That covers “3D-printed firearms, c......

Sep 05, 2026

Metal Printing

Metal Polishing Processes Compared: 3D Printed vs Cast vs Machined Parts

What Is the Main Difference in Polishing 3D Printed, Cast, and Machined Metal Parts? The main difference lies in the starting surface condition and internal structure of the parts. Polishing metal parts requires a removal process to address defects related to the casting process. Cast parts need polishing to normalize their inherently uneven surface, while polishing 3D metal parts refines a geometrically controlled but rough surface. In other words, the goal of polishing changes depending on how the p......

Sep 04, 2026

Plastics

PLA Temperature Resistance: Heat Resistance, Softening & Melting Point

Key Takeaways PLA typically starts losing rigidity around 55–65℃ (Tg) and melts at approximately 150–180℃. PLA can deform and creep long before it melts, so melting point is not a practical service-temperature limit. Actual PLA deformation depends on temperature, load, geometry, print orientation, and exposure time. Standard PLA becomes increasingly risky above 50–60℃ and is generally unsuitable for sustained 70–80℃ applications. PLA+ heat resistance varies by formulation. For higher-temperature appli......

Sep 03, 2026

Plastics

PETG Temperature Resistance: Limits & Comparison with PLA/ABS/ASA

Key Takeaways Standard PETG is best suited for continuous use below ~60℃; performance can decline as temperatures approach 70℃. PETG typically has a Tg of ~75–85℃ and an HDT of ~65–75℃, depending on the material grade and test conditions. HDT is not a maximum service temperature—load, print orientation, wall thickness, geometry, and exposure time all affect real-world performance. PETG offers better heat resistance than PLA but lower heat resistance than ABS, ASA, PA12-CF, PC, and PEEK. For sustained ......

Sep 03, 2026

SLA Printing

DLP 3D Printing: How It Works, Resolution & Accuracy

Key Takeaways DLP 3D printing is a resin process that cures an entire layer in one flash of a digital projector, using a chip of microscopic mirrors to project each slice as a single image. The technology comes from digital light processing projectors: a Digital Micromirror Device (DMD), developed at Texas Instruments in 1987, steers thousands of tiny mirrors to draw the layer with light. Because the whole layer flashes at once, layer time stays constant no matter how many parts sit on the build plate......

Sep 02, 2026